Choice of an ovarian stimulation protocol according to the follicular puncture method in an in vitro fertilization programme

In order to ascertain the adequacy of ovarian stimulation protocols with a type of follicular puncture, 126 women undergoing in vitro fertilization received either combination clomiphene/hMG or hMG alone according to a randomized test protocol. Within both groups patients for whom a pelvic examination was required had laparoscopies, while others had transvaginal ultrasonically guided punctures as far as possible. Clomiphene/hMG was more efficient than hMG alone as assessed from the cleavage rate (68% vs. 54%; p less than 0.01) and the pregnancy per attempt rate (16% vs. 5%; p less than 0.05). Laparoscopic punctures were more efficient than ultrasonically guided punctures (mean number of recovered oocytes: 4.8 +/- 2.6 vs. 3 +/- 2.5; p less than 0.001), but slightly better results were achieved by this latter method in ongoing pregnancy per puncture rate (18% vs. 8%; NS). With ultrasonically guided punctures, stimulation by clomiphene/hMG allowed better oocyte recoveries (3.8 +/- 2.5 vs. 2.3 +/- 1.9, p less than 0.05). Such results constitute an argument for preferential use of the clomiphene/hMG stimulation protocol with ultrasonically guided punctures.     

Intracellular Ca2+ suppressed a transient potassium current in hippocampal neurons

The effects of intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) on K+ currents in hippocampal cells were examined using acutely isolated cells obtained from adult guinea pigs. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were carried out in a configuration that allowed a continuous perfusion of the intracellular medium. Recording media were made to block inward currents and allowed selective activation of K(+)-dependent outward currents. Voltage-dependent outward currents consisted of an initial rapidly decaying component followed by a sustained component. The time constant of decay of the transient current was about 25 msec, and previous studies (Numann et al., 1987) showed that the kinetic and pharmacological properties of this current closely resembled the A current recorded in invertebrate neurons (Connor and Stevens, 1971; Thompson, 1982). Intracellular perfusion of hippocampal cells with a solution containing elevated Ca2+ (about 4.5 x 10(-4) M) elicited outward currents at the holding potential (-45 to -55 mV) and produced changes in voltage-dependent K+ currents. The transient outward current (IA) activated by depolarization was suppressed with increases in Ca2+i. Delayed, sustained K+ currents were greatly potentiated. Data also showed that, among the 3 effects elicited by Ca2+i, suppression of IA was most sensitive to Ca2+i elevation. Previous results (Numann et al., 1987) showed that IA had a lower threshold (about -45 mV) than sustained currents (about -40 mV). By using low levels of depolarization (-40 mV), IA can be selectively activated, and the suppressive effect of Ca2+i on IA was confirmed on the kinetically isolated IA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gene expression patterns and profile changes pre- and post-erlotinib treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To delineate gene expression patterns and profile changes in metastatic tumor biopsies at baseline and 1 month after treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in patients with metastatic breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were treated with 150 mg of oral erlotinib daily. Gene expression profiles were measured with Affymetrix U133A GeneChip and immunohistochemistry was used to validate microarray findings. RESULTS: Estrogen receptor (ER) status by immunohistochemistry is nearly coincided with the two major expression clusters determined by expression of genes using unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. One of 10 patients had an EGFR-positive tumor detected by both microarray and immunohistochemistry. In this tumor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 and collagen type 1 alpha 2, which are the EGF-down-regulated growth repressors, were significantly increased by erlotinib. Gene changes in EGFR-negative tumors are those of G-protein-linked and cell surface receptor-linked signaling. Gene ontology comparison analysis pretreatment and posttreatment in EGFR-negative tumors revealed biological process categories that have more genes differentially expressed than expected by chance. Among 495 gene ontology categories, the significant differed gene ontology groups include G-protein-coupled receptor protein signaling (34 genes, P = 0.002) and cell surface receptor-linked signal transduction (74 genes, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: ER status reflects the major difference in gene expression pattern in metastatic breast cancer. Erlotinib had effects on genes of EGFR signaling pathway in the EGFR-positive tumor and on gene ontology biological process categories or genes that have function in signal transduction in EGFR-negative tumors.     

多柔比星肾病肾损伤早期核因子-κB和血管紧张素ⅠⅡ的表达及关系探讨

目的　探讨在多柔比星 (阿霉素 )肾病综合征 (NS)幼年大鼠肾损伤过程中核因子 (NF) κB和血管紧张素ATⅠ、ATⅡ的表达及其相关性。方法　 4周龄雄性Wistar大鼠单侧肾切除加腹腔注射阿霉素造成NS模型 ,分别以免疫组织化学和原位杂交检测ATⅠ、ATⅡ和NF κB。结果　肾病组随着病变时间的延长 ,NF κB和ATⅠ、ATⅡ表达的强度和部位均呈增强趋势 ,治疗组在相同时间点则两者都有不同程度下调 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　在阿霉素肾病损伤过程中NF κB和ATⅠ、ATⅡ起着介导作用。     

Persistent reversal of diabetes by transplantation of fetal pig proislets into nude mice

Facing the limited availability of human adult and fetal pancreases, fetal pig proislets (pancreatic islet precursors) were investigated in view of several inherent advantages. Six litters of fetuses of mean +/- SE gestational age 75 +/- 3 days were obtained from commercially available farm pigs. Pancreatic tissue was gently digested with collagenase, then a 10-day culture was performed. During culture, fetal proislets showed no insulin response to glucose alone but a significant response to glucose plus theophylline. The insulin content per microgram of DNA in the cultured proislets continuously increased. Histological examination by immunoperoxidase staining showed that, apart from single insulin- and glucagon-positive cells, there were no discrete islets in the pancreatic tissue and the cultured proislets. Diabetes was induced with streptozocin (STZ) in eight nude mice 3-4 wk after proislet transplantation and in another eight nude mice without transplantation. During the initial week, blood glucose levels of mice in both groups increased rapidly. The mean +/- SE peak value of blood glucose levels in the transplanted group was 20.4 +/- 2.0 mM and was 20.1 +/- 1.3 mM in the group without transplantation. Simultaneously, body weight decreased from 29.5 +/- 0.7 to 21.5 +/- 0.9 g and from 27.9 +/- 0.7 to 19 +/- 1 g in the groups, respectively. Afterward, blood glucose levels of mice in the transplanted group gradually decreased, and normoglycemia was achieved in all mice within 50 +/- 13 days after injection of STZ, i.e., 74 +/- 13 days after transplantation. The group without transplantation persistently maintained blood glucose levels greater than 16.7 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential changes of retina dopamine binding sites and adenylyl cyclase responses following 6-hydroxydopamine treatment.

Both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are present in rat retina. D1 receptors are positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase, while D2 receptors are negatively coupled. After intraocular administration of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) there is depletion of retinal dopamine by about 90%, as well as a decrease of the number of D1 and D2 receptor binding sites. Following the 6-OHDA lesion, there is an enhancement of the D1 receptor-stimulated accumulation of cyclic-AMP and a loss of D2 receptor-inhibited accumulation of cyclic-AMP. Our results suggest that some of the retinal D2 receptors are coupled to adenylyl cyclase and some are not.     

Effects of Platelet Factor 4 on Expression of Bone Marrow Heparan Sulfate in Syngenic Bone Marrow Transplantation Mice

Platelet factor 4 ( PF4) is a negativehematopoietic factor.It can inhibit the prolifera-tion of endothelial cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells,particularly megakaryoryocyticcells,reversibly[1] ,inhibit DNA synthesis,blockcell cycle progression during S phase and reducethe sensibility of normal hematopoietic stem/pro-genitor cells,but not some cancer or leukemia celllines,to cytotoxic drugs and ionizing radia-tion[2 - 3] ,and it also can cause a population in-crease of the stem cel…     

中西医结合治疗难治性原发性肾病综合征20例

目的 :探讨难治性原发性肾病综合征 ( PNS)的中西医结合治疗途径。方法 :选择 PNS患者2 0例 ,逐步撤减激素至停用 ,停免疫抑制剂 ,酌情给予降压、利尿、降脂、提高血浆胶体渗透压 ,自拟“健肾汤”、辨证辨病加减 ,治疗前后分别测定 2 4 h尿蛋白定量、血浆白蛋白、胆固醇、Scr(血肌酐 )、Ccr(肌酐清除率 )。结果 :治疗 8周后 2 4 h尿蛋白、血浆胆固醇显著下降 ,血浆白蛋白显著上升 ,肾功能明显改善 ( P<0 .0 1 )。病情完全缓解 40 % ,部分缓解 45 % ,无效 1 5 % ,总有效率 85 %。结论 :中西医结合治疗 PNS取得一定疗效 ,值得临床和实验进一步研究。